Senator Sherwin Gatchalian is advocating for a larger budget for the Presidential Anti-Organized Crime Commission (PAOCC) to strengthen its efforts in combating Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators (POGOs).
Gatchalian emphasized that the current manpower of PAOCC is insufficient to sustain the additional operations needed to tackle illegal POGO activities.
He stated that increasing the commission’s budget is crucial to ensuring the effective implementation of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s directive to completely ban POGOs by the end of the year.
The senator also warned of the possibility that some POGOs may continue to operate underground, highlighting the need for the government to be prepared for such scenarios.
At present, there are approximately 41 internet gaming licensees (IGL), according to the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (PAGCOR).
However, an estimated 250 unlicensed POGO operators are believed to still be active and possibly involved in various criminal activities.